Burial-casket



(No Model.)

E. H. SAXTON. BURIAL GASKET.

No. 430,440. Patemted June 17, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD H. SAXTON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BU RlAL-CASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,440, dated June 17, 1890.

Application filed April 3, 1890. Serial No. 346,412. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. SAXTON, 'of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in Burial-Gaskets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in burial-caskets in which is provided a folding shelf and a pocket inside the outer walls of the casket for receiving such shelf, means being provided for holding the shelf in a horizontal position projecting outward from the casket for supporting flowers or other tributes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a burial-casket embodying my invention and showing the shelf extended. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan taken below the cover of the casket. Fig. 4 is an elevation in section showing a modification.

A represents the body of the casket, and B the cover thereof, and A one of the end walls of the casket. Just inside of wall A is an inner wall or partition A2, the two walls A A2 inclosing a pocket A3 between them, this pocket being adapted to receive shelf C in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2. This shelf may be of very thin sheet metal, in which case it should be re-enforcedfor instance, at or near the edges thereof* by thin metal bars or scraps C for stiffening the shelf. When the shelf is distended, as shown in Fig. l and in solid lines, Fig. 2, shelf C or the attachments thereof rest upon the end wall A', the latter being usually cut away to receive the straps C flush on top. Straps C may have hook ends c, adapted to engage, for instance, rod a or other stop or stops. Rod a may be blocked slightly away from wall A2, and may then be secured to the latter by for instance, staples or, as shown, this rod may be supported at the ends by plates a', the latter being permanently secured at the ends of the pocket. The shelf is usually covered with the same kind of fabric that covers the casket.

C2 is merely a thumb-strap for drawing of my invention.

the shelf out of the pocket. The stop or fastening device for holding the shelf in a horizontal position may be varied indefinitely without departing from the purpose and spirit For instance, in the modilication shown in Fig. 4 the shelf is of sheet metal of sufficient thickness to support itself without re-enforcing strips. In such case the inner end of the shelf may be bent hookshaped, as shown at c', to engage, for instance, hook D of plate D the latter being secured to partition A2. For convenience in attaching the lining or upholstering E, wall A2 is preferably of wood; but this wall may be quite thin-say a quarter or three-eighths of an inch (more or less) in thickness-and the pocket and wall A2 need not occupy but little, if any, more than an inch lengthwise of the casket, where there is usually ample room in the casket. In case of a thicker shelf (shown in Fig. 4) the end wall A should be out away, say, a sixteenth of an inch, or whatever the thickness of the shelf may be, so as to bring the top of the shelf flush with the body of the casket, whereby, in case the casket-cover is provided with hook-fastenings, the cover may be closed down when the shelf is in its extended position. The casketcover usually projects more or less beyond the body of the casket, and hence the slight crack where the shelf protruded is not notceable when the shelf is returned to the pocket. If preferred, my improved shelf and attachment may be provided for each end of the casket, or the shelves and pockets could be arranged on the sides of the casket, if called for; and it will be observed that such shelf or shelves do not in the least interfere with attaching handles at the end of the casket or elsewhere.

Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination, with a burial-casket, of a shelf and a pocket constructed inside of the casket, such pocket being adapted to lreceive suoli shelf, suitable means being provided for holding the shelf in a horizontal p0- sition extending outward from the casket, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a burial-casket having exterior and interior walls inclosing a pocket, of a shelf adapted to enter such IOO pocket, such shelf being` adapted to be eX- tion, in the presence ofvtwo Witnesses, this 7th tended outward from the casket in a horizonday of March, 1890. tal position, and a stop for engaging the inner end of the shelf o1I its attachments for hoid- EDWARD H' SAXTON' 5 ing the shelf distended, substantially as set Vitnesses:

forth. C. H. DORER,

In testimony whereof I sign this speeifioa- WILL B. SAGE. 

